THE DALLES — Following a week of practice at Quinton Street Ballpark, the Hattenhauer Distributing Columbia Gorge Hustlers opened their American Legion single A summer league baseball schedule June 11 with a 6 p.m. home game versus the Nelson Hawks of Clackamas.
The Hustlers, guided by head Coach Pat Clark and assistant’s Ed Ortega and Bailey Ortega, play a grueling four games in four days this week, including Wednesday’s contest at Hood River Valley High School. The Hustlers also play a 3:30 p.m. road game Thursday at Clackamas High School.
“We have a good mixture of kids in various age groups, with incoming seniors along with eighth graders,” said Clark. “Last year, we had quite a few freshmen on the team and this year we have a lot of pretty talented young kids who are capable of competing at the American Legion level. We’re kind of committed to a youth movement on the team right now. We have a lot of good, young up and coming and talented players. The more playing time that we can provide for them will really help them to improve and become better players who will help our high school team in the future.”
The Hustlers’ 24-player roster includes some members of the Tri-Valley Conference champion The Dalles High Riverhawk baseball team that advanced to the quarterfinals of the OSAA Class 4A state playoffs.
“We had a great season with the Riverhawks, that’s for sure,” said Clark, the TVC coach of the year. “We’re really looking forward to the summer league and it’s going to be a challenge to find enough playing time for 24 kids. But the with the nature of summer league, there will always be five to seven kids who will not be available for every game. That’s because they’ll be at basketball camps, football camps or on vacation. It’s actually a good problem having too many kids though, which is much better than not having enough players.”
Other members of the Hustlers include players from Goldendale High School, Columbia High School and Dufur High School. Incoming seniors who will provide leadership for the Hustlers include Columbia’s Wyatt Stelma, Goldendale’s Jackson Gamble and The Dalles High trio of Trey Hodges, Will Booth and Finley Corbin.
“We have a handful of seniors who will certainly be our team leaders,” said Clark. “It’s kind of a weird deal for them though. They’re used to playing with guys close to their age and to have them take on a leadership role is kind of different. For Will, Trey and Finley they know as well as we do that in order for us to continue enjoying success next year on The Dalles High baseball team, they can’t do it alone.”
The Hustlers have a young team that also includes, for the first time ever, four The Dalles Middle School eighth graders. In addition, the young squad also includes seven The Dalles High incoming freshmen. Chase Peterson, an incoming Dufur High freshman, is also on the Hustler squad. Peterson in the son of Dufur High baseball Coach Don Peterson.
“This year’s Hustler squad is going to look much different than it has in years past, but it’s also going to be a lot of fun too with this young group of kids,” said Clark. “Peterson is a pretty talented player for a freshman, along with all the other young guys on the team, as well.”
The Hustlers’ 27-game schedule concludes July 17 and if they enjoy a successful season and qualify for the state playoffs (July 24-28 in Redmond).
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